diff --git a/samples/bpf/Makefile b/samples/bpf/Makefile
index cf17c7932a6e..13f74b67ca44 100644
--- a/samples/bpf/Makefile
+++ b/samples/bpf/Makefile
@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ HOSTLOADLIBES_syscall_tp += -lelf
 LLC ?= llc
 CLANG ?= clang
 
+# Detect that we're cross compiling and use the cross compiler
+ifdef CROSS_COMPILE
+HOSTCC = $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
+endif
+
 # Trick to allow make to be run from this directory
 all:
 	$(MAKE) -C ../../ $(CURDIR)/